Railroad-signal.



L. E. GAR'NBTT.

RAILROAD SIGNAL. APPLICATION FILED AUG. 23, 1909.

Patented May 21," 1912.

2 sums-slum 1.

L. B. GARNETT. RAILROAD SIGNAL.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 23, 1909.

Patented May 21, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH 60., WASHINGION. D. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LEMUEL EDWARD GARNETT, OF CHANUTE,

RAILROAD-SIGNAL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 21, 1912.

Application filed. August 23, 1909. Serial No. 514,160. 1

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LEMUEL E. GARNETT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chanute, in the county of Neosho and State of Kansas, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Railroad-Signals, of which the following is a specification.

This inventionrelates to certain new and useful improvements in railroad signals, and

more particularly toimprovements on my allowed application, Serial Number 448,594, the object being toimprove the general con struction.

A further object of my invention is to inclos'e the operating mechanism within the post so that the same will be protected from the Weather.

Another object of the invention is to improve the construction of the tripping lever whereby the same proper position.

A still further object of my invention is to improve the construction of operating will always be held in its 1 mechanism whereby a more positive movement to the semaphore will be obtained in a simpler manner whereby it will be impossible for the semaphore to become caught after the clock mechanism has been operated.

Still another object'of the invention is to provide novel means for operating the clock mechanism whereby a'more positive movement will be obtained.

'With these various 'objects in view, my invention consists in the novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts, hereinafter fully described and pointed out in the claims.

' In the drawings forming a part of'this of my improved railroad signal.

specification: Figured is a perspective view Fig. 2 is a side elevation partly in section of my improved tripping lever. Fig. 3 is a vertical section through the 'post and mechanism. Fig. 4 is a similar view taken at right angles to that of Fig. '3. Fig. 5' is a detail side elevation of the casing for inclosing the clock mechanism, partly broken'away, and Fig. 6 is a section taken on the line "66 o Fig. 3.

In carrying out my improved invention, I employ a hollow metal post A adapted to be arranged along side of arailroad track l B and is preferably mounted on a cement base'C so that the same will be held firmly in an upright position. The upper end of the post A is cutaway as shown at A in which is mounted ashaft D on which is pivotally mounted a semaphore E which may be of any construction desired, but preferably of the form shown, the movement of said semaphore being limited by stopsE,

E carried by the post A so that the same I will be held in its proper position in a raised or lowered position. The semaphore is provided with laterally projecting pins D, D

upon opposite sides of the shaft D and 0on nected to the pin' D is a coil spring D which extends down into the post A and is connected to a pin extending outwardly therefrom as clearly shown, this spring being for the purpose of oscillating the semaphore E so that the same will be raised into the position shown in Figs. 1 and 3.

Connected to the pin D is a rod F which isprovided with a slotted lower end portion F through which extends a pin G extending outwardly from the upper end of the bar G, the rack portion of which extends through a tube H of a casing H which incloses a clock mechanism not shown.

The casing H is arranged on a shelf A formed in the enlarged portion A of the post A, said enlarged portion being provided with a removable side A so that the clock mechanism can be easily reached. The

clock mechanism is provided with the ordi nary fan governor 'I and with a gear I which carries pawlsiI normally held in engagement with a pinion I, this coeperating with the gears of the clock mechanism which are the same as shown in my former application and the gear I extends through a slot H formed in the'tube H of the casing H .and meshes with the rack portion G of the foundthat by using two separate tubes, I

am able to place the tube H within the easing H so that the gear can be adjusted with respect to the slot whereby the proper engagement between the gear and rack bar can be obtained readily.

The lower end-of the rack bar G is provided with a laterally projecting pin G to which is connected a coil spring G, the upper end of which is connected to an eye secured in the enlarged portion of the post A and the tendency of this spring is to draw the bar Gr upwardly so that in case the spring D fails to raise the semaphore after the pin G of the bar has traveled from one end to the other of the slot F, it will strike the upper end of the slot and cause the semaphore to be raised. A hook G is formed on the lower end of the bar Gr adapted to be engaged by the hook end J of an operating rod J which is drawn downwardly by a coil spring J one end of which is connected to an eye J 3 extending outwardly from the rod and. the other end to an eye J 4 secured to the post and it will be seen that the tendency of this spring at all times is to draw this operating rod down so that after the same has been forced up as will be hereinafter fully described and released, the spring will draw the same down and thereby carry the bar G down with the same so as to operate the clock mechanism. The rod J is provided with a square portion J 5 which works in a guide member K similar in shape in cross section which is arranged centrally in the post A and holds the rod J in its proper position so that all danger of the same turning in any way is prevented.

The lower end of the rod J is provided with a head J which works within a tube L arranged centrally within the post A adjacent its lower end and is adapted to engage the head M of the piston rod M which has connected to its free end a link N which is carried by a crank O which is mounted in the enlarged base portion A of the post A, said crank having a coil spring P connected thereto and a rod Q which extends out through an opening formed in the enlarged portion A and is provided with a turn buckle Q for adjusting the same. Stops O, O are arranged in the enlarged base of the post A and adapted to be engaged by the crank O for limiting the move ment of the same.

Arranged along side of the track B opposite the post is my improved tripping lever which comprises a base R having a bearing member R in which is mounted a tripping lever S which carries a bowed spring T at one end adapted to be normally held along side of the rail of the track as clearly shown in such a position that it will be engaged by the wheel of a train as it passes over the same. The base R is preferably arranged on a tie which is of greater length than the ordinary tie so as to form a support for the same and arranged under the end of the lever adjacent the spring T is a coil spring U for forcing the same upwardly and under the free end of the lever is a coil spring U for forcing the same upwardly, these springs counterbalancing each other so that the lever will be held in a horizontal position at all times and to insure the lever being held in this position, I provide the same with an opening through which a rod V extends carried by the base plate R, said rod being surrounded by coil springs V, V above and below the lever, the upper spring being held in position by a nut V working on the rod V.

The free end of the lever S extends under a crank V which is mounted in the bifurcated projection R of the base R and has connected to one of its arms the bifurcated end of the rod Q so that when the lever S is forced downwardly by the wheels of a train the rod will be drawn outwardly so as to operate the crank 0 against the tension of the spring P whereby the piston rod M will be forced upwardly carrying with it the rod J expanding the spring J 2 and allowing the bar G to be drawn upwardly by the spring G", and it will be seen that as soon as the pin G starts to travel in the slot F of the rod F, the semaphore will be released so that the spring D will throw the sameupwardly until it engages the stop E and after the train has passed over the tripping lever, the crank will be drawn downwardly by the spring P so as to release the rod J through the medium of the piston rod M and the spring J 2 will cause the bar G to be drawn downwardly with the same so as to operate the clock mechanism. In this position, the pin G is traveling free within the slot F and the semaphore will not be moved until the rack portion G of the bar G has disengaged the gear I of the clock mechanism, which will allow the bar G to have free movement so that the semaphore will be drawn downwardly with a jerk into engagement with the stop E For inclosing the shaft carrying the semaphore so that all danger of the same becoming coated with ice or snow is prevented, I provide a cover X which is arranged over the cut away portion of the post A in such a manner that the movement of the semaphore is not interfered with and this cover is secured thereon in such a manner that it can be readily detached when desired.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that I have provided a railroad signal which is exceedingly simple and cheap in construction and one in which the parts are so mounted and connected together that they are not likely to get out of order in operation and the semaphore is protected to a certain extent so that all danger of the same becoming frozen in winter is prevented.

Havin thus fully described my invention, what I c aim as new and desire to secure by by Letters Patent, is:

: ably connected to said rod with the rack portion, a spring for raising the, rod with the rack, a spring actuated rod for engaging the rod with the rack, a crank and a piston operated by said crank engaging said spring actuated rod.

2. In a device of the kind described, the combination with a hollow post, of a semaphore mounted in the upper end of said post, a clock mechanism arranged within said post, a rack bar for engaging. said clock mechanism, a rod connected to the semaphore slidably connected to the rack bar, a spring for raising said rack bar, an operatingrod for engaging the rack bar, a crank and apiston operated by said crank engaging said rod.

3. In a device of the kind described, the combination with a pivoted semaphore, of a clock mechanism, a rack bar for engaging the clock mechanism, a rod slidably connecting the rack bar to the semaphore, a spring for operating the rack bar, a spring actuatedoperating rod adapted to draw the rack bar downwardly, and means operated by the passage of a train over the track for raising said operating rod.

4. In a device of the kind described, the combination with a hollow post, of a spring actuated semaphore mounted in said post, a rod for operating said semaphore, a spring actuated rack bar slidably connected to said rod, a clock mechanism for engaging said rack bar, an operating rod for engaging said rack bar, a spring for drawing said operating rod down, and means operated by the passage of a train over the track for raising said operating rod.

5. In a device of the kind described, the combination with a semaphore, of a clock mechanism, a spring actuated rack bar for engaging said mechanism slidably connected to said semaphore and provided with a hook at its lower end, an operating rod provided with a hook for engaging the hook of the rack bar, a spring for actuating said operating rod, a crank, a piston operated by said crank engaging said rod, a rod connected to said crank, a crank connected to said rod, and a trip-ping lever operatively connected to the second mentioned crank and arranged along side of a track and springs for holding said tripping lever in a horizontal position, said tripping lever being provided with a bowed spring adapted to be engaged by the wheels of a train.

6. In a device of the kind described, the

combination with a hollow post, of a spring actuated semaphore mounted in the upper end of said post, a rod for operating said semaphore, a spring actuated rack bar slidably connected to said rod, a clock mechanism for engaging said rack bar, said rack bar being provided, with a hook at its lower end, a spring actuated operating rod provided with a hook for engaging the hook of Y the rack bar, a piston for engaging said .operating rod, and means operated by passage of a train for operating said piston.

7. In a device of the kind described, the combination with a hollow post, of a shaft mounted in said post, a spring actuated semaphore mounted on'said shaft, a rod for oscillating said semaphore, a rack bar slidably connected to said rod, a clock mechanism for engaging said rack bar, a spring for raising said rack bar, an operating rod for drawing said rack bar downwardly, a piston for engaging the lower end of said operating rod carrying a link, a spring actuated crank connected to said link, a rod connected to said crank, a second crank arranged along side of the adjacent track, a tripping lever adapted to operate said crank, said tripping lever being operated by the passage of a train over the track.

8. In a device of the kind described, the combination with a hollow post, having a semaphore mounted in its upper end, of a clock mechanism arranged within said post, a rack barfor engaging said clock mechanism slidably connected to the semaphore, a spring for operating said rack bar, a hook formed on the lower end of said rackbar, an operating rod provided with a hook adapted to engage the hook of the rack bar, a spring for operating said operating rod, a piston for raising said operating rod, a crank for operating said piston, a tripping leverarranged along side of a track, a second crank operated by the tripping lever, and means for connecting the two cranks.

9. In a device of the kinddescribed, the combination with a hollow post, of a shaft arranged inthe upper end ofsaid post, a semaphore loosely mounted on said shaft provided with pins, a. spring connected to one of said pins, a rod connectedto the other pin provided with a slotted lower end, a

rack bar provided with a pin extending the rack portion of said rod, a spring actuated by passage of a train a second crank ated operating rod provided with a hook operated by the tripping lever, and means adapted to engage the hook of the rack bar, connecting the cranks.

apiston for engaging the lower end of said LEMUEL EDWARD GARNETT. operating rod, a crank for operating said WVitnesses:

piston, a spring for returning said crank to F. W. STUART,

its normal position, a tripping lever oper- R. A. LIGHT.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents Washington, D. C. 

